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RAF Defford Museum at Croome

Photo of the exhibitions in the RAF Defford Museum
Exhibitions in the RAF Defford Museum | © James Dobson

Discover Croome's Second World War secret. Visit the RAF Museum and find out more about the experiments and developments which took place at Croome, as well as some of the personal histories of the people who lived and worked in this secret place.

RAF Defford

During the Second World War and the Cold War years that followed, Croome housed RAF Defford, one of the most secret places in the country.

Much of the land required for RAF Defford was requisitioned from the Earl of Coventry in 1940 when part of the parkland was used to build an airfield. Many buildings were erected across the site including airfield buildings, service and personnel accommodation, sick quarters, an ambulance garage, and a mortuary.

RAF Defford became the main station in Britain for the development of airborne radar.  The experiments and developments carried out were of great historic significance, playing a vital part in helping the Allies win the war and paving the way for many electronic appliances that we now take for granted.

Many of the buildings eventually fell into disrepair or collapsed, but when the National Trust acquired Croome in 1996 and recognised the significance of this part of Croome’s history, some of the surviving buildings were destined to be rescued and restored.

Photo of the RAF Sick Quarters from the air
RAF Sick Quarters from the air | © Crown Copyright

RAF Defford Museum

In September 2014 the RAF Defford museum was opened in the restored decontamination annexe of the sick quarters. It tells the story of the experiments and developments which took place at Croome, as well as some of the personal histories of the people who lived and worked in this secret place.

In February 2016, the former ambulance garage and mortuary was opened as a museum extension, and it contains the forward section of a 1951 Canberra B2 bomber. 

The RAF Defford museum at Croome was created by Defford Airfiled Heritage Group (DAHG) and is operated under a formal partnership with the National Trust. DAHG was instrumental in the restoration of the former RAF buildings with grant funding awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Defford Airfield Heritage Group (DAHG) was formed in 2010 as a successor to the RAF Defford Reunion Association, to research, record, preserve and make better known the history of Defford Airfield.  https://deffordairfieldheritagegroup.wordpress.com/